30 Apr 2026
Image description: White sheep on green pastures near a lake, taken in Loughross, County Donegal, Ireland. Photo by Brian Kelly on Unsplash Regulations falling short despite farmer efforts Despite positive investment and efforts from farmers, key regulations designed to reduce agricultural pollution have failed to deliver meaningful improvements to water quality in Northern Ireland, […]
14 Apr 2026
Image description: A puffin with fish in its beak. Photo by Tim Morgan Defra published its updated UK Marine Strategy Part One on 7 April 2026 – the first full update since 2019 and the opening of the strategy’s third six-year implementation cycle. The headline finding is stark: the UK is failing to meet Good Environmental Status in […]
05 Mar 2026
Image description: Corby Bridge, also known as Wetheral Viaduct, which carries the Newcastle–Carlisle railway. Photo by Ian Cylkowski on Unsplash The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) review on the implementation of laws for terrestrial and freshwater protected sites in England has now received an official response from the UK Government. The government’s key commitments The government welcomed the OEP’s […]
13 Jan 2026
Photo by Jack B The UK Government remains largely off track to meet its environmental ambitions and legal obligations, with progress slowing compared to the previous year, according to the Office for Environmental Protection’s latest annual progress report published on 16 January. The OEP concludes that whilst there have been some areas of improvement, very substantial […]
23 Sep 2025
Photo by Ray Harrington The Office for Environmental Protection has escalated its investigation into the UK government’s failure to achieve healthy marine waters, issuing a formal Information Notice to Defra over suspected breaches of environmental law. The unprecedented enforcement action centres on the government’s failure to meet the statutory deadline for achieving Good Environmental Status […]
14 May 2024
‘Deeply concerning’ failures to properly implement regulations designed to protect rivers, lakes and coastal waters in England mean key targets for improvement will be missed, a report by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has found. The OEP has carried out a review of the key legislation regarding water quality – the Water Framework Directive […]
21 Jan 2024
In the first major review of the Environment Improvement Plan, advisors warn that the UK Government is off-track, and risks missing the legally-binding target to halt nature decline by 2030. The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has concluded that Government needs to speed up and scale up delivery. It also warns that the plan lacks transparency and […]
17 May 2022
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has called for the government to aim high and act now to ensure it achieves its ambitions for the environment. The news of the OEP publishing its first report was covered widely by Sky, the BBC and the Guardian. The OEP report can be read here and in its […]
